Control device



July 26, 9 c. FALLIS ET AL CONTROL DEVICE Filed July 21, 1964 INVENTORSA ES FALUS MAYER JR. ARTHUR aooegns BYEZZQZPZZWW ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent CONTROL DEVICE Charles Fallis, Park Ridge, Carl H. Mayer, Jr.,Wilmette, and Arthur Rodgers, Northbrook, Ill., assignors to The FireGuard Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Filed July 21, 1964, Ser.No. 384,170

9 Claims. (Cl. 74-2) This invention relates to an energy storing controldevice for providing a relatively large force in response to a smalltriggering force and more particularly, to such a device for actuatingthe valve on a fire extinguisher head assembly.

The proper design of control devices of the foregoing type entailsseveral important considerations. It is necessary, of course, to storesufficient energy in the device to actuate the valve in question.Generally this involves no problem since a proper sized energy storingspring can be used and the device manually cocked with the necessaryforce. However, it is important that there be a very sensitive triggermeans to release this stored energy which will only be actuated inresponse to a particular event, such as a sudden increase intemperature, and not responsive to any other exterior or environmentalevent such as could result from dropping the device, vibrations, etc.

It is also desirable in such-a device that a means be provided formanually triggering the control. Towards this end, it is desirable toprovide a manual control in which a positive force is necessary tooperate the same so that inadvertent handling of the manual control willnot result in unintentional release of the stored energy.

, The manual control accordingly should be designed to be much lesssensitive than the thermal control. Moreover, such manual control shouldbe operable from a remote location. Towards this end, cable assemblies,for example, have been proposed. However, with presently known cableassemblies, the direction in which the cable must be pulled hasgenerally been fixed so that some limitation in the installation of thecontrol device is present. In other instances, it may be desirable notto use any type of remote control and towards this end, it is importantto be able to remove any such remote control and still use the device asa solely thermally responsive control.

Another important consideration in the design of a control device is torender it adaptable to different types of thermally responsive devices.For example, a diaphragm actuated structure is used in many instances,movement of the diaphragm being effected by expansion of gases due to arapid temperature rise. The movement of the diaphragm in turn isdesigned to trigger the device. On the other hand, there may be providedelectrically operated thermostats at remote locations, the signaltherefrom serving to actuate a solenoid. Thus, a different type ofconnection would ordinarily be necessary to operate the control device.It is preferable to avoid any changes in the device when used withdilferent controls.

With all of the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of thisinvention to provide an extremely versatile control device adaptable tovarious forms and combinations of triggeringdevices responsive to fluidpressure pulses, electric current, remote cable actuation and the like.

More particularly, it is an object to provide a control device whichwill provide a large actuating force in re sponse to a small triggeringforce in such a manner that only certain elements will serve to triggerthe device and other environmental events such as shock, vibration, etc.will not trigger the device.

3,262,322 Patented July 26, 1966 Another important object is to providea novel manually operable cable assembly means to effect manualtriggering of the device froma remote location and from any desireddirection.

Still another object is to provide a unique trigger control for controldevices' responsive to thermally operv sembly or any other equivalentvalve structure. The inner end of the rod within the housing terminatesin a coupling eye structure mounted to a disc in turn eccentricallysecured to a shaft. The arrangement is such that rotation of the shaftwill serve to cam the eye from a lower position to an upper position tocock or store energy within the device. Towards this end, there isprovided a strong compression spring which is compressed upon movementof the actuating rod from its lower or most extended position to itsretracted position. By using an eccentric arrangement movable towards anovercenter position, a large amount of energy may be stored and yet therequired force to release this energy approaches zero as the eccentricdisc approaches the over center position. This disc includes a laterallyextending latch arm which is adapted to be engaged by a pivoted triggerelement. By adjusting the device such that positioning of the eccentricdisc is just slightly to one side of the over center position, a verysmall force is exerted on the trigger element. On the other hand, thepivoting movement of the trigger element to release the latch arm topermit the latch arm and disc to rotate, will result in the release ofthe energy stored within the compression spring.

Other important features of the invention relate to the provision of anovel cable actuator assembly adapted to operate the trigger elementwhen a cable is pulled and so mounted to the housing that the directionof pull may be varied as desired. Further, the housing includes acoupling adapted to receive either a diaphragm type thermal control,electrically operated thermostat solenoid structure, or pressureoperated control. In any event, the trigger element is responsive to amovable member so that the adaptation of the diaphragm type, solenoidtype or pressure type of thermal control may readily be achieved.

A better understanding of the improved control device of this inventionwill be had by now referring to a preferred embodiment thereof asillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the control device of this invention;and

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross section of the device taken generally inthe direction of. the arrows 22 of FIGURE 1.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, the device comprises a housing 10 includinga lower coupling nut 11 and an actuating rod 12. The lower end of therod 12 is visible in FIGURE 1 as protruding from the coupling nut 11.When the actuating rod 12 is in a raised position within the housing,energy is stored and when the device is triggered, the actuating rodmoves from its raised to a lowered released position to provide thedesired large magnitude force to operate auxiliary valves and the like.

Several means are provided-for intentionally triggering the structure torelease the energy stored within the housing 10. The most important ofthese comprises a thermally responsive device in the formof a diaphragmcasing 13 connected through a flexible pressure conduit 14 to a closedvolume 15. The closed volume 15 may be disposed in any area in which afire is liable to break out. The design is such that a rapid orextraordinary rise in temperature will result in a rate of expansion ofthe gas within the closed volume 15 sufficient to move the diaphragmwithin the casing 13 in a direction to trigger the structure in thedevice 10. With the device coupled to the top of a fire extinguisherhead assembly by means of the coupling nut 11, the resulting downwardmovement of the actuating rod 12 will trigger the fire extinguishingdevice. A small air bleed is provided from the closed volume 15 so thatnormal environmental temperature changes will not move the diaphragm totrigger the structure within the housing 10.

To provide manual remote control of the triggering, there may beprovided, for example, a cable actuator assembly 16 including first andsecond cables 17 and 18 extending in opposite directions therefrom. Thearrange ment is such that pulling on either of the cables 17 or 18 willserve to trigger the structure within the housing 10. ating assembly 16may be swivelly mounted to the top of the housing 10 so that thedirection of pull of the cables may be changed as desired.

Still another control may be provided in the form of a manuallypivotable lever 19 normally locked against movement to the housing 10.However, removal of the locking key 19 to permit rotation of the manuallevel 19 will enable the device to be triggered by moving the lever.

Except for the foregoing means for triggering the structure within thehousing 10, it is not possible to otherwise actuate the device. Thushammering or dropping or general vibrations exerted on the housing 10will not release the energy stored therein.

After triggering, the device may be reset by rotating a center shaft 20.This operation as well as other features of the invention will be betterunderstood by now referring to the enlarged cross-section of FIGURE 2.

Referring first to the lower portion of FIGURE 2, there is provided anintegral fitting 21 to which the nut 11 is rotatably keyed and whichterminates at its upper end within the housing 10 in an inturned flange22. This flange supports the upper end of a compression spring 23serving as the energy storing medium for the device. The lower end ofthe compression spring 23 seats on an annular stop 24 secured to theactuating rod 12. An annular guide 25 for the lower end of the rod issecured to the fitting 21 as shown. The arrangement is such that the nut11 may be threaded over the upper nipple portion of a fire extinguisherhead assembly so that downward movement of the actuating rod 12 from thesolid to the dotted line position transfers the stored energy to actuatethe fire extinguisher.

The movement of the actuating rod 12 is achieved by mechanism in thecentral portion of the housing 10. This mechanism includes an eyestructure 26 threaded to the upper end of the actuating rod 12 andlocked by set screw 27. The eye 26 defines a central opening 28including an inner bearing race 29. A disc 30 is rotatably mounted bybearings 31 Within the race 29 as shown. The disc 30 isv eccentricallyconnected to the shaft 20 which in turn is rotatably mounted to thehousing 10. A latch arm 32 extends laterally from the disc 30.

With the foregoing arrangement, it will be clear that rotation of theshaft 20 will serve to move the disc 30 from a position in which itscenter is below the shaft 20, as shown in dotted lines, to a position inwhich its center is above the shaft 20 as shown in solid lines. In theparticular solid line illustration of FIGURE 2, the various elements arein their set or cocked position in which the actuating rod 12 is in itsset raised position. If the disc 30 is free to rotate, and assuming thatthe center of the disc 30 is slightly to the left of a vertical linepassing In accordance with a further feature, the cable actuthrough theshaft 20 so as not to be quite in an over center position, the disc 39will rotate in a counterclockwise direction until its center is belowthe shaft 20 to assume the dotted line position. In this position, theactuating rod 12 is in its lowered released position. Thus, in settingor clocking the device, the shaft 20 is rotated in a clockwise directionuntil the latch arm 32 assumes the solid line position shown.

A trigger means including a trigger element 33 pivoted intermediate itsends at 34 is provided with one end terminating in a roller 35constituting an engaging portion adapted to engage under the end of thelatch 32. The arrangement is such that the engaging force exerted by thelatch 32 on the roller 35 is in a direction in line with a straight linedrawn through this engaging portion and the center pivot 34. Thus,pivoting movement of the trigger. element 33 in a counterclockwisedirection will initially move the engaging end roller 35 in a directionat right angles to the force exerted bythe latch arm 32. By employingthe roller 35, the degree of force needed to move the trigger element 33from under the latch arm 32 can be made extremely small. Thus only avery small triggering force is required to release the energy stored inthe device. This triggering force may be further decreased as aconsequence of the eccentric construction wherein the closer theeccentrically mounted disc 34 isbrought to an over center position, theless will be the force exerted by the latch arm 32 on the triggerelement 33.

In order to control the sensitivity of the device, the trigger element33 is provided with a trigger spring 33 secured between the element andthe housing as shown. This spring may take the form of a hair springstructure and serves to bias the trigger element such that the roller 35is urged under the latch arm 32 to prevent any inadvertent releasing ofthe latch arm. The force exerted by the spring 33 may be initiallyadjusted so as to require a given force to be exerted on the lower end36 of the trigger element to effect counterclockwise rotation andtrigger the device.

The diaphragm casing 13, as shown in enlarged cross section in FIGURE 2,is so positioned that the lower end 36 of the trigger element 33 will beengaged by a movable member 37 connected to the diaphragm 38. The otherside of the diaphragm in turn is in communication with the closed volume15 illustrated in FIGURE 1 through the conduit 14 by means of a couplingcylinder 39. The lower end of the cylinder 39 includes a small air bleed40 so that slow rates of change of pressure within the closed volumewill not move the diaphragm 38 but only a sudden change in pressure aswould be caused by a rapid temperature rise is effective to actuate thediaphragm.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the componentsdescribed thus far will be clear. Thus, a rapid rise in temperature tomove the diaphragm 38 to the right and thus move the movable member 37to the right will serve to rotate the trigger element 33 in acounterclockwise direction causing the roller portion 35 to disengagefrom under the latch arm 32. The latch arm 32 and disc 30 are thus freeto rotate in a counterclockwise direction to assume the dotted lineposition shown and result in the movement of the actuating rod 12 fromits solid to dotted line position. This movement of the actuating rodwill then effect any desired function such as turning on a fireextinguisher. In this regard, it is to be pointed out that rod 12 has aloose fit in flange 22 and in annular guide 25 to accommodate slightlateral movement of rod 12 as a result of the circular motion ofeccentric 30 and eye structure 26.

In re-cocking the device, the shaft 20 is rotated in a clockwisedirection as explained in conjunction with FIG- URE 1 until the latcharm 32 rides past the trigger element 33 and the trigger element is freeto snap under the arm 32 and support the same. If the movable member 37has been retracted, there is suflicient room for the lower end of thetrigger element 33 to move, the end of the movable member 37 serving asa stop for the trigger element. The spring 33' as explained heretofore,

biases the trigger element generally in the desired direction to engageunder the latch arm 32.

Referring now to the upper portion of FIGURE 2, the cable actuatorassembly will be described in detail. As shown, there is provided anactuating element in the form of an inverted L structure 41 pivoted at42 and including one end portion 43 disposed. beneath the center topportion of the housing 10. The other end portion of the inverted L isindicated at 44 and is adapted to engage the trigger element 33-adjacent its upper roller portion upon rotation of the L about its pivot42.

Thus, downward movement of the upper end 43 of the L will result inlateral movement to the left of the other end 44 thereby causing thetrigger element to disengage from under the latch arm 32. A spring 41'is provided to bias the L shaped member in a direction to avoid bearingagainst the trigger element 33 unless an intentional force is applied tothe upper end 43.

To provide an intentional force, the cable actuator assembly includes aplunger at 45 biased upwardly by a compression spring 46. The upper endof the plunger terminates against the mid-section of a slide member 47including inwardly tapered surface walls defining conical surfaces 47aand 47b meeting in the central portion of the slide member. Thearrangement is such that movement of the slide member 47 in either theleft or right hand direction will result in one or the other of thesurfaces camming the plunger 45, in a downward direction therebyengaging the end 43 of the L shaped member 41 and thus triggering thedevice.

The movement of the slide member 47 may be achieved by either one of thecables 17 or 18, the slide member itself being biased to a centralposition by suitable springs 48 and 49. By adjusting the forces exertedby the various springs such as the plunger compression spring 46 and thesprings 48 and 49, the manual pull force on either one or the other ofthe cables may be adjusted to adjust the sensitivity of the triggeringaction by the cables.

A feature of the structure described in conjunction with the cableactuator assembly resides in the threading of the assembly in a threadedopening 50 and using an expandable type washer 50' such that the cableassembly housing may be rotated and yet a proper seal maintained overthe opening. By this arrangement, and because of the symmetry of theplunger element 45 about the vertical axis AA, the direction at whichthe cables 17 and 18 extend from the housing 16 may be varied asdesired.

Another feature of the use of a threaded opening 50 resides in the easewith which the cable actuator assembly 16 may be completely removed andthe opening 50 simply plugged by a suitable close-off cap.

By also providing a threaded opening 51 on the left side of the housing10 for the diaphragm casing 13 and by positioning the trigger element 33to be operated by a movable member concentric with this opening, asolenoid may readily be substituted for the diaphragm structure with thesolenoid plunger performing the function of the movable member 37.

It will also be appreciated other triggering means Well known in the artmay be coupled to openings 50' and 51. Briefly, automatic triggeringcould be effected by adiaphragm, a thermostat actuated solenoid, or apressurized piston activated by a fusible link cartridge operator. Amanual remote means could comprise a cable actuator, solenoid (actuatedby a push-button) or a pressure pulse from a push-pull station. Any ofthese devices could be coupled at either 50 or 51.

Thus, while only one specified embodiment of the invention has been setforth and described, it will be evident that various changes andsubstitution of equivalent elements may be effected by those skilled inthe art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.The improved control device is therefore not to be thought of as limitedto the one embodiment set forth merely for illustrative purposes.

What is claimed is:

1. A control device for providing a large actuating force in response toa small triggering force comprising, in combination: a housing; anactuating rod having a lower end protruding from the lower end of saidhousing; a compression spring biasing said actuating rod from a raisedset position to a lowered released position to provide said largeactuating force, the upper end of said rod terminating in a coupling eyewithin said housing, said -coupling eye having a central circularopening; a disc received within said circular opening and having a latcharm extending radially therefrom; a shaft eccentrically secured to saiddisc and mounted to said housing for rotation about an horizontal axisso that rotation of said shaft from a first position in which the centerof said disc is below said shaft to a second position in which thecenter of said disc is above said shaft, moves said actuating rod fromits released position to its set position to compress said compressionspring; and a trigger means in said housing and including an engagingportion positioned under said latch arm to hold said shaft and disc insaid second position, said trigger means being responsive to saidtriggering force to disengage saidlatch arm and release said disc sothat said compression spring moves said actuating rod from its set toreleased position to provide said large actuating force.

2. A control device according to claim 1, in which said housing includesan upper opening receiving a cable actuator assembly, said cableactuator assembly including two cables extending in opposite directionsfrom said assembly and a central plunger received in said opening andresponsive to pulling of either one of said two cables to movedownwardly into said opening; and a pivoted member in said housingresponsive to downward movement of said plunger into said opening toactuate said trigger means. v

3. A control device according to claim 2, in which said cable actuatorassembly is mounted to said opening for swiveling movement so that saidcables can be pulled from any desired direction.

4. A control device according to claim 3, in which said cable assemblyincludes a slide member having opposite ends connected to said cablesrespectively and radially inwardly tapered sidewalls meeting at thecenter of the member to define a pair of conical surfaces, said plungerbeing cammed in a downward direction by one of said conical surfacesupon sliding movement of said slide member in one direction and by theother of said conical surfaces upon sliding movement of said slidemember in the other direction.

5. A control device according to claim 4, in which said housing includesa side opening receiving a thermally operated assembly including amovable member receivable through said side opening in a position toengage a portion of said trigger means, said assembly being responsiveto a given rate of temperature increase to move said member inwardly toactuate said trigger means.

6. A control device according to claim 5, in which said thermallyoperated assembly includes a pressure diaphragm, one side of which isconnected to said movable member and the other side of which issubjected to gas pressure in a closed volume, said closed volume havingan air bleed such that only said a given rate of temperature increasewill provide sufficient pressure from thermal expansion against saiddiaphragm to actuate said triggering means.

7. A control device according to claim 6, in which said trigger meanscomprises a trigger element pivoted intermediate its ends to saidhousing, one end of said element constituting said engaging portion,said device being positioned such that a straight line from saidengaging portion at right angles to said direction to release said latcharm.

8. A control device according to claim 7, in which said movable memberfor said thermal assembly is positioned to engage upon movement the endof said trigger element opposite to its engaging end so that inwardmovement of said end results in the outward movement of 10 said engagingend to release said latch arm 9. A control device according to claim 8,including a trigger element spring connected between said triggerelement and said housing for biasing said trigger element such as tourge said lower end into engagement with said movable member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,333,130 10/1943Thomsen 74-2 2,466,750 4/1949 Thomsen 74-2 2,923,160 2/1960 Ault 74,-2

MILTON KAUFMAN, Primary Examiner.

1. A CONTROL DEVICE FOR PROVIDING A LARGE ACTUATING FORCE IN RESPONSE TOA SMALL TRIGGERING FORCE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A HOUSING; ANACTUATING ROD HAVING A LOWER END PROTRUDING FROM THE LOWER END OF SAIDHOUSING; A COMPRESSION SPRING BIASING SAID ACTUATING ROD FROM A RAISEDSET POSITION TO A LOWERED RELEASED POSITION TO PROVIDE SAID LARGEACTUATING FORCE, THE UPPER END OF SAID ROD TERMINATING IN A COUPLING EYEWITHIN SAID HOUSING, SAID COUPLING EYE HAVING A CENTRAL CIRCULAROPENING; A DISC RECEIVED WITHIN SAID CIRCULAR OPENING AND HAVING A LATCHARM EXTENDING RADIALLY THEREFROM; A SHAFT ECCENTRICALLY SECURED TO SAIDDISC AND MOUNTED TO SAID HOUSING FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN HORIZONTAL AXISSO THAT ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT FROM A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH THE CENTEROF SAID DISC IS BELOW SAID SHAFT TO A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH THECENTER OF SAID DISC IS ABOVE SAID SHAFT, MOVES SAID ACTUATING ROD FROMITS RELEASED POSITION TO ITS SET POSITION TO COMPRESS SAID COMPRESSIONSPRING; AND A TRIGGER MEANS IN SAID HOUSING AND INCLUDING AN ENGAGINGPORTION POSITIONED UNDER SAID LATCH ARM TO HOLD SAID SHAFT AND DISC INSAID SECOND POSITION, SAID TRIGGER MEANS BEING RESPONSIVE TO SAIDTRIGGERING FORCE TO DISENGAGE SAID LATCH ARM AND RELEASE SAID DISC SOTHAT SAID COMPRSSION SPRING MOVES SAID ACTUATING ROD FROM ITS SET TORELEASED POSITION TO PROVIDE SAID LARGE ACTUATING FORCE.